Body-brace.



Nu. 633,596.' Patented Sept. 26, I899.

'J. H. KELLOGG.

BODY BBACE.

(Application filed Oct, 12, 1898 (No Model.) 2 Shoots-Sheet l.

WITNESSES //v VENTOH W J55]; JLJifeZlo f ATTORNEY.

- Patented Sept. 26,1899.

J. H. KELLUBG, BODY BRAGE.

(Application filed Oct. 12, 189B.)

2 Sheets8haat 2.

(No Model.)

W/ T/VE SSE S NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. KELLOGG, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, AS SIGNOR TO THE MODERN MEDICINE PUBLISHING COMPANY, LIMITED, OF SAME PLACE.

BODY-BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,596, dated September 26, 1899.

Application filed October 12, 1898, Serial No. 693,283. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- For a better understanding of the inven- Be it known that I, JOHN HARVEY KEL- tion reference is had to the accompanying LOGG, acitizen of the United States, residing drawings, in which at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and Figure l is a perspective view of my im- 5 State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new proved body trainer and abdominal sup and useful Improvements in Body-Trainers porter, showing its application to the body of and Abdominal Supporters,- of which the fola person to be treated, the figure being indilowing is a specification. cated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a perspective My invention consists in certain new and view showing the rear portion of the body IO useful improvements in body-trainers or trainer and abdominal supporter. Figs. 3, shoulder-braces and abdominal supporters; 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail views showing the and the invention consists of a combined deconstruction of the abdominal supporter and Vice of this character possessing all the merthe method of adjusting the back pads so as its of the shoulder-brace and also those of to conform with the peculiar shape of any 15 the abdominal supporter and at the same particular body to which the device is to be time giving to the patient the advantages and fitted. benefits resulting from the combined use of The shoulder-brace consists of the usual set a shoulder-brace and abdominal supporter, of shoulder-straps 1,which pass over the shoulresults which actual practice in the treatment ders and around the arms, connecting with 2o ofnumerous cases has shown to be of inestithe back piece 2 and having the usual con- .mable value and results that, as far as known, necting or brace portion 3. Suitable buckles have not heretofore been accomplished. 4 are provided for adjusting the shoulder- Generally the purpose of this invention is straps. The depending straps at the front 5 to correct an exceedingly common deformity and 6 and those at the rear 7 and 8, which usu- 25 variously known as round shoulders, holally serve the purposes of suspenders, are

low or fiat chest, &c., a deformity which is secured by buckles to the abdominal supuniformly associated with an abnormallyporter, the construction of which will now be straightened or curved condition of the spine explained. and a prolapsed state of the stomach, bowels, The supporter fi consists of a thin metallic 30 and often the kidneys andthe liver and other plate eight or nine inches in length and about internal organs. Various devices have hereone and one-quarter inches in width. This tofore been made for the purpose of overcomplate is provided with a series of vertical slots ing these difficulties; but they have usually 11 near either end, and into these slots fit staconsisted either of shoulder-braces or an abples 12 of the circular back pads 13. When 35 dominal supporter; but, as far as known, no these staples are fitted into the slots of the attempt has ever been made to treat these plate, slotted oblong plates 14 are fitted over troubles with a single device and one which the staples and carry buckles 15, to which the serves to correct the deformity and at the back straps of the shoulder-bracearesecured. same time give relief to the prolapsed organs This plate 14 fits fiat against the back plate c 40 of the lower trunk, the value of the device 9, and through the projecting staples of the being increased by the assistance and coopback pads are passed the ends of right and eration one portion lends to the other in atleft supporting spring-arms 15, such ends taining the results desired. having a series of apertures which are adapt- In the present invention I have devised an ed to register with a single aperture in the 5 v 5 abdominal supporter so constructed as to lift center of the plate 9, and when the springthe lower portion of the abdomen in essen-. arms have received the proper adjustment a tially the same manner as the parts may be small set-screw is passed through the regislifted by the hands and a shoulder brace or tering apertures of the spring-arms and into trainer consisting of a set of straps arranged a screw-threaded hub formed on the inner 50 after the general and well-known method for side of the back-plate 9, such hub being of drawing the shoulders backward. sufficient size to secure and hold the springarms in the desired position. These registering apertures in the ends of the spring-supporting arms 15 permit of an adjustment of such arms to accommodate bodies of varying size, and the series of vertical slots in the back plate 9, through which the staples of the back pads pass, allow the adjustment of these back pads as regards the distance between them, so that they can be readily adapted to the varying shapes presented by different patients. The importance of such construction can be appreciated when it is known that seldom, if ever, in practice has it been found that any two persons are alike in the shape of this portion of the back. These springarms 15 have a strong natural curvethat is to say, normally the front ends press strongly toward the rear plate. These arms are suitably padded to protect the wearer, and near the ends are provided with eyelets adapted to engage and lock with headed studs or pins on the abdominal-supporter pads 16. The pressure of the spring-arms 15 upon the abdominal pads is upward and inward, and in this way the deleterious influence of constricting-bands is avoided, a fault which. is presented by nearly all other abdominal supporters. By the application of pressure from springs there is no constriction whatever, the springs acting only at the two extremities, the fixed point being the back pad and the movable point the front pads, which are lifted by the tensile strength of the spring-arm.

Besides attaching buckles to plates 1t for construction with the back straps of the shoulder-brace, other buckles are attached to these plates, and to these depending buckles are secured perineal bands, which pass under the legs of the patient and attach to the abdominal pad 16 by slotted ears or plates fitting over studs or pins on the abdominal pads. The purpose of these perineal bands is to hold the abdominal supporter from slipping up when it is connected with the shoulder-brace.

In order to avoid the objections of a rigid support or brace and to insure the elasticity of the support, a small piece of elastic webbing is introduced in the back straps of the shoulder-braces, extending from the brace portion 2, which carries the buckles, downward for about two inches, from which point the elastic webbing is continued. This construction avoids the danger of retiring from activity the muscles which naturally support the trunk of the body.

\Vhen used alone, shoulder braces or straps are seldom of any practical benefit; but by connecting these straps in a proper manner with the abdominal supporter the shoulders may be held back to any required degree. By simply shortening the back straps connecting the shoulder-braces with the abdominal supporter the shoulders are approximated, thus producing a strong anterior spinal curve, which is the most effective means of correcting a round-shouldered or flat-chested condition. At the same time that the shoulders are brought back the chest is lifted forward, and the abdominal organs by this combined action of the shoulder-brace and abdominal supporter are quickly lifted into place. The back straps of the shoulderbrace are connected with the back piece of the abdominal supporter, so as to give the supporter a tendency to tilt downward, whereby by the aid of the perineal bands and the spring side pieces the front piece of the abdominal supporter is prevented from slipping up.

The effect of the combined action of the shoulder-brace and the abdominal supporter is to give to the front a strong upward curve, to lift the chest forward while holding the hips backward, and to correct the posterior curvatures of the spine and prolapse of the internal viscera. Byadj ustment of the shoulder-brace it is also possible to correct reducible lateral curvatures of moderate degree.

The body-trainer and abdominal supporter are not intended to be a rigid support or brace, but to furnish elastic support. This characteristic is secured by means of the elasticity of the springs of the abdominal supporter and by the introduction of the elastic webbing of the back straps of the shoulderbraces which connect with the back piece of the abdominal supporter. The advantages of this elastic support are that the muscles which naturally support the trunk are not retired from activity, as would be the case with a rigid support of any sort, but are simply aided to such an extent as may be necessary to enable them to correct existing deformities. The body-trainer and abdominal supporter are used in connection with gymnastic exercises, massage, and application of electricity, whereby the weak muscles are strengthened, so that in time the bodytrainer and abdominal supporter can be dispensed with.

The apparatus has to be worn only until the muscles are sufficiently strengthened to perform the work of supporting the body in a correct position without it. Other devices intended to accomplish the same thing have failed usually for two reasons: First, theygenerally fail to correct the existing deformities,

and, second, if the deformities are corrected the muscles are not strengthened, but, rather, weakened by their use, so that the difficulties in the end are aggravated rather than cured.

The side straps 5 and 6 of the shoulderbrace are attached adjustably to the right and left spring supporting-arms in order to assist in sustaining the abdominal supporter in position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a body-trainer and abdominal supporter, the combination with shoulder-braces, back and side straps depending therefrom and adjustably attached to the abdominal frame, such abdominal frame comprising a back plate having a series of vertical slots near either end, right and left spring-arms adj usta-bly secured to said back plate, the free ends of said arms being formed so as to normally press inward and upward and support the lower organs of the body, pads carried by said arms, and back pads adjustably carried by the back plate in order that the device may be adapted to the varying shapes of the human body and straps which pass between the wearers limbs and the abdominal-supporting pad 16 supported in position by the spring-arms, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a body-trainer, shoulder-braces having front and back depending straps adjustably attached to the abdominal frame, whereby the shoulders may be drawn back to any degree desired by adjusting the back straps, the straps serving to support said abdominal frame in position; back pads and abdominal pads secured to the abdominal frame, whereby a round-shouldered or fiat-chested condition can be corrected, and a prolapsed state of the bowels, liver and lower organs treated at the same time; said abdominal frame comprising a back plate provided with a central aperture and a series of vertical slots formed near either end, such slots being adapted to receive the staples of the back pads; oblong slotted plates arranged to fit over said staples and carrying buckles to which the upper shoulder and lower perineal straps are attached 5 right and left spring supporting-arms with series of circular apertures on their rear ends, said arms being passed through the staples of the back pads, the apertures in said arms registering with the centralaperture of the back plate; a set-screw adapted to pass through said registering apertures, and to be secured in a threaded hub formed on the back plate; abdominal pads carried by the free ends of the spring-arms and means for easily and adj ustably attaching said pads to the spring-arms; perineal straps attached to the rear of the abdominal frame and arranged to pass between the wearers limbs and to be secured to the abdominal pads to retain the same in position, all arranged sub stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. KELLOGG.

lVitnesses:

DAVID PAULSON, ORA MAE FRASER. 

